All-weather to all-conquering: Kirby rises to occasion to become a Derby hero

Once hailed by an authority such as Walter Swinburn as having more flair than the "steely and solid" Ryan Moore but also criticised on Flat racing's grandest stage for using "all-weather winter tactics" by champion trainer John Gosden, Adam Kirby has not enjoyed a straightforward journey to Derby destiny.

Coupled with a long-term battle with the scales that he readily admits he will certainly lose before his 50s and maybe even his 40s, the 32-year-old is among the most respected and dedicated members of the weighing room, but was hurt in 2015 when he rode Postponed against Gosden's Eagle Top in the Hardwicke, which prompted the Newmarket trainer to describe Kirby's effort in a Royal Ascot barb as "unacceptable race-riding", adding he had a "problem with using all-weather winter tactics and intimidating somebody in an attempt to knock them out the way. It's just not on".

All was seemingly forgiven two years later when the jockey rode for the trainer, but Kirby still carries the essence of it around with him, saying recently: "People say I'm an all-weather jockey, I'm not an all-weather jockey. I have won plenty of big races on grass."